SOME OBSERVATIONS BEFORE THE STORY

FIRST

There is an old saying: “Things happen in threes.” This could be construed from my last three Photo of the Week articles, all concerning Historic Transportation! 

Remember, the Oxford railroad tunnel, the Portland Columbia Pedestrian Bridge, and now the life-size silhouette of a Morris Canal boat along a watered section of the Morris Canal at Waterloo Village!! 

In this case, things did happen in threes, but only by chance and circumstance! Today’s project and respective article has been in the works for over two years, just waiting for us (“us” being many people and organizations) to “jump through all the hoops” (another great adage)!  GOOD NEWS: we made it through “the lion’s share” of all the hoops this past Saturday, Oct. 24!  Just have to finish up a couple more small details and we are totally completed.

An aside. I used three old sayings in my above explanation.  “Does that even FURTHER substantiate or qualify the fact that “things happen in threes!?”

SECOND

A fact: Waterloo Village is in Sussex County, New Jersey.

A question: Why is this an article on Inside Warren?

An answer: See STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO

THE HISTORY

It was several years ago at Warren County’s Bread Lock Park when the volunteers there completed, installed and thus presented to the public two life-sized mules along with their tender atop the tow path.  At this same location is a life-size replica of a Morris Canal Boat adjacent to the dry canal bed. 

It struck me how the addition of those two mules and their tender so dramatically transformed my perspective of the overall site/sight, from looking at replicas to also IMAGINING life on a canal boat back when!  I immediately thought of another place that was related the Morris Canal, where I had been connected over the years as a volunteer for Allamuchy Mountain State Park.

That place was Waterloo Village.

Even before my volunteer days, which began almost 20 years ago, I remember Waterloo Village and its concert fields as a state trooper. During the “golden years,” Waterloo was a famous go-to place for visits, be it historic, recreational or musical! The golden years now long gone, Waterloo Village still has a quaint charm and beauty about it. It also still has a unique story. It is the only site east of the Mississippi depicting an actual Canal Town on the original location, and it contains locks AND an inclined plane all at one site!! ++PLUS++  the canal is still watered!

After seeing the installation at Bread Lock Park, I began asking around. First, to get the ball rolling, was Waterloo to check if this would be permitted etc.  Same time began checking around with this concept, with the many people, groups and organizations I am affiliated with.  The concept was unanimously validated and now we just needed a plan if ultimately approved!! 

During this same time period, more silhouettes and displays were being installed in the area.  Two life-size mule silhouettes and a young tender were installed along the watered canal at Waterloo by the park service. These were facing as if going west, journeying into Warren County.  In Phillipsburg, there was more activity along the same lines. Phillipsburg installed a life-sized silhouetted display consisting of two mules and a tender, along with a canal boat connected by a thick rope. This display was heading east on a journey that would go through Warren County, through Waterloo and continuing on to Jersey City. 

THE PLAN

Reviewing this story and bringing you up to date, at this point, the only challenge I was facing was funding and who would build the life-size silhouette canal boat.  Long story short, I advised everyone that I would fund this project, at which time I was offered unanimous support from all my affiliations. And then the key that unlocked the door: the volunteers from the Bread Lock Park crew advised that they would draw up plans and assemble this project during their free time!! 

“TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED!!!” 
“THANK YOU!!!!!”

This project thus began in earnest: plans drawn up, how much, what type and size wood. Actually, my end of the project proved to be the easiest and simplest–writing several checks!  It’s all the other individuals, groups and organizations that had to “jump through the hoops.” Not always an easy task when you have multiple entities following their own rules and regulations, plus weather, personnel availability, Covid-19, etc. And top that off with a NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE and its restrictions!

All agree this is a valuable project not only in itself, but for highlighting, advertising and showcasing all our Warren County projects, canal-oriented or not. 

Waterloo Village is like having a billboard on an interstate highway as opposed to a little sign on a back road.  Waterloo Village also plays the same role as many of our developed Warren County sites. THEY SHOW HOW IT LOOKED AND HOW IT WORKED. 

Keep in mind, folks, while the Morris Canal is celebrated across New Jersey, it is the western end of the canal and state where most of the existing infrastructure still remains. Warren County has about 80 percent of the canal still observable to one degree or another; there are only scattered pockets of the canal viewable for the rest of the state. 

The Warren Heritage Scenic Byway recently has been officially extended, including to the west, all the way through Phillipsburg to the Morris Canal Arch on the Delaware River AND to the east, through Hackettstown, Allamuchy, Allamuchy Mountain State Park and into Sussex County, ending at Waterloo Village!!

In viewing last Saturday’s work with the attached photos, remember that volunteers from the following groups and organizations participated (some individuals represent multiple groups):

• ALLAMUCHY TOWNSHIP OPEN SPACE
• WARREN COUNTY BREADLOCK PARK CREW
• NEW JERSEY PARK SERVICE – Waterloo Village
• WARREN COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION – Trail Committee Members
• CANAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY
• WARREN COUNTY MORRIS CANAL COMMITTEE
• WARREN HERITAGE SCENIC BYWAY
• WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF RECREATION
• MUSCONETCONG RIVER MANAGEMENT COUNCIL – National Wild & Scenic River
• MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION

I wish to again thank everyone and their organizations for making a dream come true and for providing another wonderful site/sight for the public to visit and learn about their culture and heritage all amid our beautiful open space!

Questions:
“How can I get involved?” 
“What is out there to do?”   

My answer:  Start with the previous list of organizations capitalized, meet some wonderful people, do some wonderful projects, and enjoy and get some satisfaction out of life!! (MAYBE EVEN JUST WRITE A CHECK!!!)

Enjoy Your Open Space,
Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.